Council decisions

This report sets out the consultation responses, and the amendments to the scheme as a result of the consultation which have been made in conjunction with the chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee.

This report sets out the consultation responses, and the amendments to the scheme as a result of the consultation which have been made in conjunction with the chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee.

Authority for a single source tender to block book accommodation with 24 hour on site support and to commission additional key worker support up to a maximum value of £325,000 for a 12 month contract

Authority for a single source tender to block book accommodation with 24 hour on site support and to commission additional key worker support up to a maximum value of £325,000 for a 12 month contract.

The Board considered the future work programme as set out in the agenda and agreed the following items to be considered in 2017/18:

1.     Report on Child Sexual Exploitation, Gangs and Domestic Violence.

2.     Report on Community Rehabilitation Company (including Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) and Adult Offender Management.

3.     Future Landscape – including:

Ø  Community Safety Update

Ø  Drugs

Ø  Policing and Crime

Ø  MOPAC (Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime)

4.     Revised Multi-Agency Performance Dashboard.

5.     MOPAC Update on Pan-London Commissioning.

The Board agreed the work programme as set out above.

Chief Superintendent Simon Rose presented the Performance Dashboard as at May 2017.  He reported that there had been a significant increase in robbery which would be kept under review.  In relation to Anti-Social Behaviour it was reported that there had been a small increase, but noted that the classification of incidents meant that this was open to interpretation. 

In relation to repeat burglary victims, Chief Superintendent Rose informed the Board that police had been visiting those most affected and were undertaking target hardening.  Of the 500 victims approached by the police around 400 had accepted support and there had only been one repeat victim from those supported. 

Robbery had seen an increase in prevalence and this would continue to be monitored.  It was noted that the recent trend in moped robberies could be contributing to this increase. 

The Board noted the update and requested that a presentation be delivered to the next meeting on burglary and prevention with a focus on victims. 

Anika Cosgrove and Carol Beckford were in attendance to deliver a presentation on Restore London, a pan-London victim focussed restorative justice service. 

The presentation outlined the definition of restorative justice, the benefits to victims and the benefits to offenders.  The drivers for a new approach were outlined along with the ‘hub and spoke’ model that would be delivered in London. 

The Board suggested that Restore London could liaise with Victim Support Barnet to ensure that there was a joined-up approach. 

The Board noted the presentation.

Tina McElligott, Assistant Director of Family Services, LB Barnet provided an update on Family Services.

Ms McElligott delivered a presentation which detailed child data as at June 2017 and an overview of the Barnet:

·         Under 18 CSC/Gang profile;

·         Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) profile;

·         Missing Children profile;

·         Troubled Families Programme;

·         Youth Offending;

·         REACH (multi-agency team to wrap-around children at high risk of CSE, Gangs and Missing); and

·         Strategic Oversight.

Responding to a question from the Board, Ms McElligott agreed that a disproportionate number of children missing in care were from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. 

The Board noted the update and requested that consideration be given to which Family Services key performance indicators could be added to the partnership performance dashboard. 

Matt Leng, Community Safety Manager, LB Barnet provided an update on the Prevent Strategy.  He reported that:

·           Partners had been holding monthly meetings with Middlesex University;

·           148 GP’s had been prevent trained at a recent conference;

·           456 staff in partner agencies had been prevent trained;

·           The Community Safety Team had implemented a secure IT system for liaison with partners; and

·           A public building audit had taken place assess for target hardening.  

The Board were reminded of the five Prevent Strategy objectives which were:

·           Partnerships;

·           Risk Assessments;

·           Prevent Action Plan;

·           Staff training; and

·           Use of local authority resources

The Board were informed that Home Office funding 2016/17 had been secured for 2017/18 to support the following posts in Barnet:

Prevent Co-ordinator

Prevent Education Officer

Community Co-ordinator

He reported that next steps were:

·           Development of an Executive Summary; and

·           Creation of a Prevent Strategy KPI dashboard.

The Board noted the Prevent Strategy update.

Steve Leader, the London Fire Brigade Barnet Borough Commander, provided an update on Barnet Borough fire performance and key issues. 

In relation to performance, it was reported that community safety measures were performing well, but some indicators were below target relating to: primary fires – injuries; outdoor rubbish fires; fires in buildings that are not dwellings; and shut in lift releases.

Emerging trends were:

·           Primary fires had been increasing, particularly in shop units with residential accommodation above.  In these cases, residents of dwellings had suffered from smoke inhalation and were therefore included as casualties even though the injuries were minor; and

·           There had been a focus on high rise buildings following the Grenfell Fire.

Mr Leader reported that key challenges were:

·           A continuing focus on fire safety in high rise buildings and diversion of resources to support that work;

·           Linking between agencies to identify vulnerable people who represented a high fire risk, such as drug and alcohol dependents, people with serve disabilities or hoarders.

The Board noted the update and requested that up to four fire safety key performance indicators be added to the dashboard including one relating to referrals to the Fire Brigade from partner agencies. 

Karolina Bober, Senior Service Delivery Manager, Victim Support presented the Barnet Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Project End of Year Report 2016/17.  She reported that there had been a decrease in the number of referrals from the MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) with an associated increase in referrals directly from the police, Barnet Homes and the Community Safety Team.  She reported that 118 referrals had been received against a target of 60. 

The Board questioned whether Victim Support provided help for elderly victims of distraction burglary.  Ms Bober reported that staff had been trained, but that there wasn’t currently a specific project relating to this.  It was noted that there were links to GP’s in relation to these types of cases.

Board Members noted that referrals were made from Victim Support to services provided by partner agencies including drug and alcohol services, fire safety and CommUNITY Barnet. 

The Board noted the update and agreed the following:

1.     Ensuring that the Community Safety Team are focussed on hate crime;

2.     Victim Support being requested to provide team briefings to partner organisations on services provided; and

3.     Victim Support maintaining a focus on referrals to partner organisations where appropriate.

Kiran Vargwarl (Strategic Lead for Community Safety) presented the draft Domestic Violence and Violence against Women and Girls Strategy 2017 – 2020.  She outlined the governance structure that would support delivery of the Strategy and highlighted that referrals could be made between Boards, Forums and Groups where appropriate. 

Partners were requested to nominate appropriate representatives to sit on the Boards, Forums and Groups detailed in the Strategy document.

The Board agreed the Strategy and endorsed the objectives set out in the Barnet’s Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2017-2020.

The Chairman of the Safer Communities Partnership Board, Councillor David Longstaff, welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

Apologies for absence had been received from Jamie Keddy, MOPAC.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2017 be approved as a correct record, subject to the amendment in minute item 1 to show Jamie Keddy as representing MOPAC and not the National Probation Service.

The Head of Resources introduced the report.   She informed the Local Pension Board of the issue of a regulatory intervention report by the Pensions Regulator to the London Borough of Barnet Pension Fund.   The Board noted that the Director of Resources and the Assistant Director of Finance, CSG had visited the Pensions Regulator.   

The Board noted the intervention that related to a fine that was levied due to non-completion of the 2016 Scheme Annual Return. The report highlighted the failures that led to the fine being issued and the actions that have been and are being taken in response.

The Local Pension Board outlined its concerns in relation to this report and the association to the statutory responsibility of the Council.   The Board noted the measures which have been put in place as outlined in appendix A, however their concerns were noted. 

Following the consideration the Local Pensions Board:

Resolved

-        That the Local Pension Board noted with great concern the issue of a regulatory intervention report by the Pensions Regulator in relation to the London Borough of Barnet Superannuation Fund and the actions being taken in response.

-        That Local Pension Board requested that it be kept well informed of any development in relation to this item 

-        In addition to the above the Chairman requested that Board Members keep their contact details up to date in order to receive appropriate communications at all times.

To award those Companies and Organisations referred to in Appendix 1 to this Report (“the Suppliers”) the right to join an Approved List Contract for the supply to the Council of Day Opportunities and Employment Support Services (“the Services) and for the award of that Contract for a period of 3 years from 1st November 2017, (with an optional extension by one year) (“the Term”), on those terms agreed during Tender.

The Committee received a report in the name of the Head of Governance.  The report asked the Committee to nominate representatives to local authority governor vacancies on the 13 school governing bodies listed in Appendix A to the report.

Having considered the report, the Committee RESOLVED:

1.    That the following representatives be nominated to vacancies on school governing bodies

2.    That nominations to the following school governing bodies be deferred.

The Committee received a report in the name of the Proper Officer for Registration. The report sought determination on an application received from 2 premises:

1.    Ariana Banqueting Hall, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1GN; and

2.    Avenue House, 17 East End Road, London, N3 3QE.

The applicants sought to have their approval renewed as a venue for marriages and civil partnership registrations in pursuance of Section 46A of the Marriage Act 1949 and the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005 and in pursuance of Section 6 (3A) (a) the Civil Partnership Act 2004. The renewal would be for a further period of three years.

Having considered the report, the Committee RESOLVED to:

1.    That the application received from The Ariana Banqueting Hall to renew approval for the solemnisation of marriages and civil partnerships for a further period of three years from the date of expiry of the most recent approval be approved.

2.    That the application received from The Avenue House to renew approval for the solemnisation of marriages and civil partnerships for a further period of three years from the date of expiry of the most recent approval be approved.

The Strategic Director for Adults, Communities and Health sought the Committee approval for the creation of one new post – Director of Public Health.

Having considered the report, the Committee RESOLVED to:

1.    That the creation of a 0.6 FTE Director of Public Health post in the Adults, Communities and Health Department, as set out in the report be approved.

2.    That Strategic Director for Adults, Communities and Health be authorised to take all necessary steps to appoint to the post.

The Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing (Commissioning Group) presented the report which provided information on the Council’s health and safety performance for the period 2016/17 and the priorities for the period 2017/18; to ensure continued improvement in performance.

He explained that the information contained within the report was based on performance information and data obtained from the council’s accident/incident reporting system, together with independent audit results, corporate training records and ill health data.

Having considered the report, the Committee RESOLVED:

That the report listing the priorities for the period 2017/18 as outlined in Section 3 of the Annual Health and Safety Report (Appendix 1) be approved.

The Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing (Commissioning Group) presented the report which sets out the proposed amendments to Part C of the Corporate Health and Safety Policy and the arrangements for the management of the risk of legionella.

In summary, he explained that the amendments took into account changes to the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on Legionella control (L8), changes to the council’s senior management structure and modes of service delivery

Having considered the report, the Committee RESOLVED:

1.            That the revisions to Part C Section 31; Prevention and Control of Legionella be noted.

2.            That the Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeingbe instructed to publicise the revised arrangement in accordance with paragraph 1.6 of the report.

The Head of Estates LBB introduced the report which sets out the current use of committee and meeting rooms at Hendon Town Hall

Having considered the report, the Committee RESOLVED;

That the report on the utilisation of committee and meeting rooms at Hendon Town Hall be implemented.

The Acting Returning Officer introduced his report outlining the planning, implementation and delivery of the UK General Election on 8 June 2017 in the three parliamentary constituencies within the London Borough of Barnet.

Having considered the report the Committee RESOLVED:

1.    That the preliminary findings of the Acting Returning Officer in the report set out in Appendix A be noted.

2.    The a full (more detailed) report be presented to the committee on 9 October 2017 and that such a report will form part of an annual process of elections review.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 20 March 2017 and 3 May 2017 be approved as a correct record.

To award the contract to Solace.